Socar Launches Deep Well for Umid

Azerbaijan's national oil company Socar launched a deep well in the Umid gas condensate field in the Caspian Sea, according to the company’s information.

“Drilling of well 14 was conducted from March 2015 in order to develop the deposit and to confirm hydrocarbon reserves in the northwestern sector. The well depth was 6,352 metres,” the late December report says.

According to Socar, the well was put into operation with a daily output of 600,000 m³ of gas and 100 metric tons (mt) of condensate. However, within a few days, a phased increase in the production volume is planned and the well operating mode will be adjusted to its optimal level.

“It is expected that the daily production of well 14 will reach 1mn m³/d gas and 150 mt of condensate. The successful results of the drilling allow work to start on a new platform to develop the northwestern part of Umid and its full-scale development,” the report indicates.

Gas is produced through two wells, 10 and 12, whose total production is 750,000 m³ of gas and 230 mt of condensate/day. Umid is in the shallow-water part of the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, 75 km from Baku. Socar estimates its reserves at 200bn m³ of gas and 30mn mt of condensate. Azerbaijan needs to produce more gas to maintain exports while also supplying its own needs.

Socar president, Rovnag Abdullaev

(Credit: Socar)

Azerbaijan desk